Automatic gas shut-off.



PATENTED JULY 28, 1903v J. L. L. KROOK. AUTOMATIC GAS SHUT-OFF.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 8, 1902.

N0.MODEL.

i are. 734,718.

Patented July 23, 1903.

FFICE,

PATENT JOHN L. L. KROOK, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

, AUTOMATIC GAS SHUT-*OFF.

s's'sexrrca'rren formin art of Letters Patent No. 734,718, dated ruiy as, 1903.

Application filed October 6, 1902. Serial No.126,038. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. L. KROOK, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Oam-- bridge, in the county of Middlesex and State and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

My invention relates to an automatic gas shut-off whereby a supply of gas is automaticallyturned E after its flame is extinguished.

The special object of my invention is to provide in case of an accidental extinguishment of the flame or when the flame is extinguished in any other way than by turning off the gas by the local valve, which controls its passage to the burner; and it consists in such adaptation and correlation of parts that this valve would be closed after the fiame is extinguished by atmospheric pressure. The

means by which this effect is obtained, together with the adaptation shown in the combination and organization of the various parts,

can best be seen by reference to the drawings, where Figure 1 shows a gas-burner provided with my device, the same being shown partly in elevation and partlyin cross vertical section.

Fig. 2 shows a horizontal cross-section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Referring to the drawings, A represents a gas-burner, which may be of any kind, shape,

or size. The burner is shown as having a mantle a; but this is in no way essential to the perfection of my invention apart from show? ing its capabilities, aswill hereinafterappear.

a represents the gas-supply pipe, while a? representsa pipe-section interposed between the supply-pipe .and the burner, which it serves to connect. Thispipe-section a makes screw connection with the parts to which it is secured in order that it may be a detach able part, and the threads by which the screw tral gas-passage a connections are made are preferably cut to a gage, by which the section may be readily attached to any kind of gas burner or fixture.

Extending through the section 0. is the cen- This passage is closed by a valve which takes the form of a sliding stem a which has placement to extend when closed crosswise the passage. The inner end of the valvular stem extends into a slight recess (1 formed in the wall of the interior passage-way, this to more efiectually prevent the flow of gas. The valvular stem at is fitted to slide easily, but still so as to prevent a leakage of the gas, and on this account it is better to provide the wall of the pipe-section, through which the stem extends, with a boss a in which there is formed a stuffing-box a of any common form orstructure, as shown. Upon the outer end of the stem is formed a knob or head a by which the stem may be moved in or out by hand as its valve-forming end moves crosswise or clear from the passage-way, which it is adapted to close.

makeas direct an attachment with the valvujlar stem as possible. of its piston-rod b and the strap-arms 19 secured thereto, which turn around the pipe- It does this by means section a on opposite sides and make connection with the valvular stem a near its outer end, approximately as indicated. By this-method of connection any motion given to the piston would be correspondingly and simultaneously reproduced in i the sliding valve; In other words, the piston b, if properly actuated, would draw the valvularstem across to a closed placement and so shut off the flow of the gas'to the burner. llnthis connection the looped formation of the arms 19 is to be noted, which permits of their lateral movement relative to the pipe-section 11 also, the grooves or recesses b formed in the adjacent walls of the pipe-section, in which the arms lie as they turn around the sides thereof. By recessing the arms thus they are guided in their movement and added stability is given to the sliding parts which they serve to connectnamely, the piston and the valvular stein.

The section B is left open at its inner end or at the end of its cylindrical passage 1), so that the atmosphere may have access to the piston. It is best provided with a dust-guard b at this point, however. Through the upper wall of the piece forward the piston is cut an opening or port b, which is closed by the ball-valve b normally occupying by gravity the hollow segmental seat b In order that there may be no danger of this valve becoming displaced, it has, as shown, a cage The valvular opening I), it is to be noted, is cut forward of the piston 19, but so that when the piston is moved forward in its cylinder-chamber b and the valvular stem of is drawn to a closed placement, as shown in Fig. 1, then the edge of the piston will contact with the valve and lift it from its valve-seat.

The end of the section 19 forms a chamber 11 narrowing to form an outlet I), through which connection is made to the globular airchamber 0 by suitable pipe connections 0. The pipe 0 may make any suitable joint connection with the forward .end of the section B; but the section is preferably disposed to make its connection with an upturned end against which the end of the pipe 0 abuts. The outside of this turned end is screwthreaded. Then by the coupling 0 clamping against an annular flange formed on the end of the pipe 0 and screwing down upon the threaded end of the upturned section aforesaid a separable joint is obtained.

The air-chamberQis made preferably globular in shape, as represented, and its placementis such that it will receive the heat of the gas-flame. This is best done by placing the chamber directly over the flame, when it will be subjected to the direct influence of its heat. The chamber may be provided with a hood C, which is made to partake of the nature of an ornamental fixture. It also helps retain and conserve the heat from the flame.

The upturned pipe carrying the air-charm ber may he stayed in any way necessary. I have shown a single stay 0 which would apparently meet all requirements.

It is to be noted in the examination of these parts just described that the air-chamber O and its connecting passages, inclusive of the chamber b are practically closed to the atmosphere with the exception of the opening or port I), and this normally remaining closed by the valve b The operation of my device is as follows: Assuming the valve a controlling the gaspassage to be drawn out and the gas lighted, the heat of the flame acting upon the air inside the globular chamber would cause the same to expand and a portion of the air by the force of expansion would be forced down through the pipe connection 0 into the chamber b of the interposed section B and then out through the valve through the port I), the valve 11 controlling the port being raised by the force of outward expulsion of the air. This would continue as long as the gas was lighted or until the action of the heat from the flame would cause no further expansion and so consequent expulsion 'of the air. Assuming now the gas to he accidentally extinguished, with the valvular stem controlling the gas passage left open, as soon as the heat of the flame was removed from the airchamber the air remaining in the chamber from that which had previously been expelled by the heat of its expansion would begin to cool. As it cooled it would contract and with the contraction a partial vacuum would be formed, for the valve 11 which controls the only passage to the outer air, would become closed by gravity just as soon as the air confined in the globular chamber and its connecting passages ceased to be outwardly expelled by its heat expansion; besides the outward air acting upon the "acuum or partial vacuum formed in the globular chamber and 0 its connecting passages would act upon this valve and force it closed. As the air in the chamber continued to cool and contract, a more perfect vacuum of course would be induced, until at length the pressure of the outer air acting upon this vacuum would be sufficient to move or push forward the piston 19, which would simultaneously with its movement draw the valvular stem to a closed placement and the gas would be turned off.

Of course it would be necessary that the air chamber and its connecting passages should be supplied with air after this movement of the piston in order that its operation may be continued when the gas is again lighted and subsequently extinguished. I have made provision for this by the contacting of the piston, after it has performed its function, against the valve 6 which controls the port I). The valve is raised by the piston, whereno upon the outer air rushes in and supplies the air-chamber and its connecting, passages.

My device is entirely automatic, requiring no especial manipulations in order for the various parts to perform their proper funcr15 tions, for just as soon as the valve controlling the gas-passage is opened the parts are set, as it were, and ready to operate.

It is obvious, considering the method of operation, that various changes may be made in the construction and organization of the various parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, the valve which controls the supply of gas to the burner may take other forms apart from that shown by .the sliding stem. In fact, any means adapted to shut off the supply of gas to the burner and to be actuated by the piston might be used. Likewise other means may be resorted to to relieve the pressure of 0 air within said air-chamber as the same becomes heated, or changes may be made in the I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In an automatic gas shut-oft the combination with a gas-burner of a valve for controlling the supply of gas to the flame, an airchamber having placement to be influenced by the heat of the flame, an air-valve for the admission or escape of air, a connection between the said air-valve and said chamber,

a movable member, a connection between said movable member and said gas-controlling valve, the movable member aforesaid being so placed that one side thereof is exposed to the pressure within said air-chamher and the other side to that of the atmosphere, substantially as and for the purposes I set forth.

2. In an automatic gas shut-E, the combination' with a gas-burner of a valve for controlling the supply ofgas to the flame, an airchamber having placement to be influenced by the heat of the flame, an outwardly-opening valve, a connection between said outwardly-opening valve and said air-chamber so as to permit of the escape of air therethrough, a piston, a connection between said piston and said gas-controlling valve, the said piston,being so placed as to close a passage from the interior of said chamber to the i atmosphere whereby one side of said piston is exposed to the pressure within said chamher and the other side'to the atmosphere, sub:

stantially as and for the purposes set forth. 3. In an automatic gas shut-off, the combination with a gas-burner of a valve for controlling the supply of gas to the flame, an airchamber having placement to be influenced.

movable member and the gas-controlling valve aforesaid, the said valve being so combined with said interposed chamber as to close an otherwise open side thereto, whereby one side of said movable member is exposed to the pressure within said air-chamber and the other side to that of the atmosphere and an air-valve permitting of the admission to and escape of air from said air-chamber.

' 4. In an automatic gas shut-oif, the combination with a gas-burner of a valve for controlling the supply of gas to the flame, an airchamber having placement to be influenced by the heat of the flame, an interposed chamber, a connection between said interposed chamber and said air-chamber, a piston carried by said interposed chamber and so disposed as to be acted upon by atmospheric pressure, means for connecting said piston with the gas-controlling valve, and an outwardly-opening air-valve in said interposed chamber, the said valve being so disposed that it will be automatically opened by the piston when in a certain position, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In an automatic gas shut-off, the combination with a gas-burner of a valve for controlling the supply of gas to the flame, an airchamber having placement to be influenced by the heat of the flame, an interposed chamber, a connection between said interposed chamber and said air-chamber, a pistoncontained in said interposed chamber, a connection between said piston and said gas-controlling valve, the said piston being so coinbined with said interposed chamber as to be exposed on one side to the pressure within said air-chamber and on the other side to that of the atmosphere, and means permitting of the escape of air from said-air-chamher and allowing its return, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

JOHN L. L. KROOK.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN E. R; HAYES, SAUL SIPPERSTEIN. 

